Am I Cycled

[dfield]

Hi

I bought a second hand tank but the tank had been running with mature media in it, up until the weekend (we collected it Tues) it was filled yesterday and has been running for 24 hours.

I also added in filter media from my other tank thats been running for 3 months (I had a second filter that I am replacing so used the media)

Readings are showing

PH 7.4
Amonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 40 ppm

I'd have thought that suggests the media was good and the tank is cycled.

There are no fish in yet.

I don't want to put the fish in too soon, should I maybe do a weeks (daily) readings to see that the tank is stable, before I consider moving the fish.. or should I leave it longer.???

Any advice would be appreciated..

 

[fluttermoth]

You may well have a cycled filter, but you'll need to be adding a source of ammonia ASAP, or what bacteria you have will die off. You can either add fish (being prepared to fish-in cycle, if the bacteria have died off) or add ammonia or fish food.

 

[dfield]

I didnt know you could add fish food, thats interesting!! I have been trying to get a source of ammonia all day.. I went to Pets at Home and told the girl I wanted some ammonia - she answered "why would you want to do that.. surely you want to get rid of the ammonia" so I figured I was wasting my time hoping for some there!

Could I take some water out of my other tank and put it in there??? would that add ammonia?

I really wouldnt want to risk a Fish in Cycle if poss.. I have done that once when I bought the tank with the pictus cats in, and had whitespot for about a month!!! Not sure if that was to do with the cycle or the stress of the move but needless to say I wouldnt really want to have that again.

 

[Aqua Tom]

I didnt know you could add fish food, thats interesting!! I have been trying to get a source of ammonia all day.. I went to Pets at Home and told the girl I wanted some ammonia - she answered "why would you want to do that.. surely you want to get rid of the ammonia" so I figured I was wasting my time hoping for some there!

Could I take some water out of my other tank and put it in there??? would that add ammonia?

I really wouldnt want to risk a Fish in Cycle if poss.. I have done that once when I bought the tank with the pictus cats in, and had whitespot for about a month!!! Not sure if that was to do with the cycle or the stress of the move but needless to say I wouldnt really want to have that again.

Boots, Homebase & most hardware stores will sell ammonia.


Tom

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Make sure that there are no additives to it like surfactants or perfumes... just water and ammonium hydroxide.

 

[dfield]

Brilliant, thanks for that, I'll go get some later today.